Canuckduck Notification System - Developer Implementation Guide

1. Overview

This guide outlines the implementation requirements for Canuckduck’s structured notification system, AI-driven issue engagement, and emergency alert protocols. The objective is to ensure timely, relevant, and non-intrusive communication to users while maintaining high system efficiency.

 

2. Notification System Architecture

2.1 Notification Types & Frequency

The system must support the following notification structures:

  • Weekly Digest (Default) - Sent Fridays at 12PM.
  • Daily Updates (Optional) - Sent daily at 12PM.
  • Critical Updates Only - Major funding decisions, final approvals.
  • Emergency Alerts - Immediate dispatch for urgent actions.
  • Mute All Notifications - User opts out of all notifications.

Technical Considerations:

  • A single batch process must generate and send one consolidated notification per cycle.
  • Notifications must be localized to the user’s timezone to ensure consistent 12PM delivery.
  • Store user preferences in the user profile database and retrieve them before scheduling notifications.

2.2 Delivery Channels

  • Email (Primary Channel) - Managed via SendGrid, AWS SES, or another bulk email provider.
  • Push Notifications (Optional) - Web push API for browsers and mobile (opt-in only).
  • Browser Notifications (Optional) - PWA-based notifications when user is logged in.
  • No SMS/Text Support - Avoid excessive intrusiveness.

Technical Considerations:

  • Email queuing and load management to avoid bulk send failures.
  • Rate-limiting for push notifications to prevent notification spam.

 

3. Subscription Management

3.1 User Opt-In & Tracking

Users can subscribe to specific issues within Flightplan:

  • A relational table must track user ID → subscribed issue ID.
  • If an issue is updated, the system should only notify users who are subscribed.

3.2 Issue Consolidation for Multiple Subscriptions

  • If a user follows multiple issues, notifications should be grouped into a single digest.

  • Avoid redundant emails—only one notification per cycle regardless of the number of tracked issues.

     

4. AI-Driven Issue Monitoring & Engagement

4.1 Stalled Issue Detection

  • AI will detect stalled issues based on: ✅ Lack of updates for X days (configurable threshold). ✅ Incomplete fields (missing budget, vendors, approvals). ✅ Low user engagement despite open requests for input.

4.2 Public Stalled Status Indicators

  • Issues flagged as stalled should be publicly labeled:
    • 🟡 Minor Stalled - Missing minor details.
    • 🟠 Critical Stalled - Requires urgent input.
    • 🔴 Deadlocked - No movement; intervention required.
  • Statuses must be updated dynamically as information is provided.

4.3 Consensus-Based Information Gathering

  • Consensus can be triggered as a survey tool to fill in missing issue details.
  • AI should aggregate user responses and update Flightplan automatically.

Technical Considerations:

  • AI logic should be scheduled as a cron job to analyze issue engagement periodically.
  • Machine learning models (optional) can improve issue classification over time.

 

5. Emergency Notification Protocol

5.1 Defining Emergency Criteria

Emergency notifications should override user preferences and be sent immediately if:

  • Urgent public action is required (e.g., last-minute government vote).
  • Funding withdrawal requires an immediate response.
  • Public safety is affected (e.g., project cancellation impacting infrastructure).

🚨 Examples of Emergency Notifications:

  • "City Council votes tomorrow on [Project Name]. Public input required today."
  • "Emergency housing fund deadline approaching—urgent action needed."
  • "Government has revoked funding for [Project Name]. Community response required."

5.2 Delivery & Handling

  • Sent immediately regardless of user notification settings.
  • Email and push notifications only (no SMS).
  • No read receipts or tracking—one-way delivery only.
  • Users cannot opt out of emergency alerts.
  • Rate-limit emergency alerts to one per issue to avoid spam.

 

6. Government Form Integration & Automation

6.1 Auto-Generating Government Forms

  • Flightplan should map project details to government form fields.
  • Users receive pre-filled forms that match municipal/provincial requirements.
  • Allow users to review and adjust before submission.

6.2 API Integration (Future Phase)

  • Establish partnerships with municipal agencies to submit forms via API.
  • Implement secure API authentication for verified requests.

 

7. Logging & Auditing

  • All sent notifications must be logged for compliance.
  • Emergency alerts should be flagged separately in logs.
  • AI engagement actions (e.g., detecting stalled issues) should be auditable.